'Transgender Tamil immigrant' with no British visa elected as Green Party MSP

Q Manivannan, a transgender Tamil immigrant and non-binary PhD student, became the first Green Party Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh & Lothians East after winning the seat on May 8. Despite holding a student visa—rather than a permanent UK visa—they will earn £77,711 annually, a salary funded by the Scottish Parliament. Manivannan, who moved to Scotland in 2021 from Tamil Nadu, India, to study international relations at the University of St Andrews, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £5,047 for a graduate visa, citing the cost as a barrier to long-term residency. The Scottish Government temporarily relaxed rules to allow non-UK citizens to stand in elections, enabling Manivannan’s candidacy. They described their victory as a step toward dismantling systemic barriers for marginalized communities, stating that their election ‘expands what is possible for everyone left behind.’ The Green Party praised the result, emphasizing that Manivannan holds a valid visa permitting work and residency in Scotland, while criticizing the UK’s ‘needlessly expensive and hostile’ visa system. Opposition figures raised concerns over the decision. Conservative candidate Sue Webber questioned how Manivannan could serve as an MSP with uncertain future residency, while Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick criticized the policy, arguing that elected representatives should not rely on student visas. Jenrick’s post on X called for stricter immigration controls, framing Manivannan’s eligibility as an anomaly. Manivannan’s campaign highlighted broader debates on immigration reform, with the Greens advocating for a more inclusive visa system. Their election underscores tensions between electoral participation rights and immigration policy, particularly for international students and minority communities. The Scottish Greens defended their candidate, asserting that the Parliament’s decision aligns with principles of diversity and representation.